Think you have a bird collision problem?
First, determine why it’s happening

If you do suspect you have a bird collision problem, it’s important to determine which collision danger is causing the issue: reflective or fly-through surfaces.

Reflective Surfaces 

Reflective surfaces are the most common cause of glass collisions for birds. They mirror the surrounding habitat and sky, causing the illusion of an environment that doesn’t exist. 

Fly- Through Surfaces

Fly-through is when birds can see a habitat or sky that does exist on the other side but do not realize the glass is a solid barrier preventing them from reaching it. A clear glass railing and a glass walkway are common examples.

What to do if you notice a bird-strike problem 

Whether reflective or fly-through surfaces are causing your bird-strike problem, it’s important to take action as soon as possible to prevent future collisions. Here are a few ways you can reduce the risk of bird collisions:

Analyze your building through the eyes of a bird 

Take a walk through your backyard and observe it from a bird’s perspective. Are there any windows that reflect sky or vegetation at certain times of the day? What about windows that provide a clear view to plants and vegetation inside? You should also be mindful of transparent deck railings and other structures made of glass as they too can pose a significant risk to birds. 

Keep feeders out of the danger zone 

Many people choose to hang feeders in trees close to their homes so they can watch the birds feed from their windows. But in truth, this is the worst place to put them. Placing feeders in trees near buildings draws birds close to windows and other dangerous glass surfaces. It also provides them with enough space to gain the necessary speed to cause serious harm to themselves. The Audubon Society recommends placing feeders and birdbaths farther than 30 feet from windows or closer than 3 feet. Isn’t 3 feet too close? No. When placed closer than 3 feet, birds are unlikely to gain enough speed to cause serious injury in the event that they strike a window. Treating your glass with proper bird collision deterrents is important but here are a couple of things you can do to help until you are able to take action:

Eliminate reflections with exterior screens 

Exterior screens placed in front of windows create a visible barrier for approaching birds by reducing the reflective properties of glass. 

Skip cleaning your windows during this year’s spring cleaning 

When windows are clean, they are more reflective, which dramatically increases bird collisions. If you’re going to wash your windows, it’s recommended that you do so after the majority of migrants have moved through your area. 

Found an injured bird? Here’s what you need to do 

Many bird collision deaths go unreported because people don’t know how to properly help.

In the event that you find a small-injured bird, follow these steps to provide help safely:

• If possible, have someone watch over the bird as you search for something to contain it. They can ensure the bird stays safe until you return with a suitable container.
• Use an unwaxed paper bag or a small cardboard box to contain the bird. If using a cardboard box, you’ll need to poke a few small holes inside it. Scrunch up clean, unscented tissue or a paper towel and place it inside the bag or box so the bird has something soft to grasp.
• Approach the bird from behind and use both hands to gently cover the bird (be careful not to leave your fingers open, otherwise the bird will escape). At this time, the bird may vocalize or try to flutter. Expect this and remember to stay calm. When holding the bird, refrain from closing your fingers or hands too tight. Small birds are fragile and holding them too tightly may cause additional injuries.
• Place the bird upright in the unwaxed paper bag or small box and make sure it’s securely closed.
• Place the contained bird in a dark, room temperature, quiet space, away from children and pets. Avoid interacting with the bird as this will cause additional stress.
• Do NOT give the bird food or water.
• Immediately contact your local wildlife rescue or rehabilitation facility. Even if the bird just appears stunned, it’s likely the bird is suffering from internal injuries not visible from the outside. A wildlife rehabilitation facility will be in the best position to advise you on the next steps.
• The wildlife rehabilitation facility will likely suggest you bring the bird in for observation or release it. If you are instructed to release it, bring the bird to a wooded area far away from buildings. Before releasing the bird, point the bag or box in the direction of trees, slowly open the top, and let the bird fly out. If the bird appears to not be flying well, try to recapture it and reconnect with the wildlife rehabilitation facility.
• If you believe that the bird’s injuries are the result of a glass collision, enter the report in the Global Bird Collision Mapper.

Avoiding Window Strike

The main two approaches, supported by research, are either bird friendly glass, or regularly spaced window markers.

Bird friendly glass
For example, AviProtek^® uses etched glass, or ORNILUX^®  uses a special UV reflective patterned coating that is virtually transparent to the human eye but is visible to birds (birds differ in the kind of UV light to which their eyes are sensitive, so it’s important to use materials that reflect a broad range of wavelengths in the UV spectrum)

Regularly spaced window markers
Experiments for effective window strike mitigation have shown that effective mitigation typically requires exterior window applications, such as stripes or dots, to be applied densely, at most 10 cm apart vertically by five cm horizontally.